MARRIAGE

Five Things Every Marriage Needs

By Dr. Greg Smalley
Smalley Relationship Center

CBN.com 
So where did I go wrong? How could I wind up in such despair?
My derailment occurred because I was looking for happiness, not
joy. There is a major difference between happiness and joy. Happiness
in life is transitory, dependent on circumstances. Joy continues
regardless of trials. That's especially true in marriage. When
a couple discovers joy, they are free to enjoy marriage the way
it was designed by God. And they are able to endure all that life
throws at them.

Even though I was involved in a highly respected ministry, I
failed because I didn't know the source of joy. What's more, my
marriage struggled as a result. I believe I violated five principles.
These are five things every individual (not just married people)
needs in life, but we tend to look for them in all the wrong places.
But when we have these five things, we are able daily to experience
indescribable joy.

First, I Needed an Energy Source to Recharge My Spiritual
and Emotional Batteries

I was looking to Bill and to my job for my energy. Everything
that gave my life meaning and significance came from my friend
and my work. When I was with him, I was high. When I was on the
road planning an event, my life felt important. On those occasions
when I was not getting what I needed from work, I would look to
Norma to make up the difference. But she was busy with three kids,
so my expectations often weren't met. I didn't realize that neither
my job nor any person would provide the lasting fulfillment I
needed. That had to come from another source.

Second, I Needed Someone to Whom I Could Pour Out My
Heart and Talk to About Anything at Any Time

You might naturally think my wife would be that person, and Norma
tried to help. But I knew she had expressed concerns about my
being involved in this work, so I didn't feel free to completely
open up to her. And the problem with having only one really close
friend like Bill was that when that friendship changed, I had
no one else to turn to. What I didn't know was that I did have
this type of friend. He was waiting for me to open up to him,
but it took me a long time to realize it.

Third, I Needed to Understand My Emotions, For They Were
Warning Lights Telling Me I Was in Trouble

I didn't know it at the time, but there were numerous indications
that I was in trouble. My anger at Bill and the ministry was a
big one. Fear of the future was another. Loneliness should have
been a clue that I was expecting too much from Bill. Depression
was a major warning sign that life wasn't cooperating with my
expectations. But I didn't understand my emotions, and so I suffered
far more than necessary.

Fourth, I Needed to Know That There Is Meaning in the
Trials We Endure

The Bible makes a promise—though it is one we don't really
want to claim—that we all will endure trials. Trials are
an inevitable part of life. But I was totally unprepared for this
trauma. Norma couldn't help me either, because my trial had caused
a crisis in her life. There was no way then that Norma and I could
come together and gain understanding of the situation. Now I can
look back and tell you that this crisis was one of the best things
that happened to Norma and me. I would never want to go through
it again, but I truly wouldn't trade what I learned either. The
message of this book, the joy that Norma and I discovered, is
a direct outcome of my crisis.

Fifth, I Needed to Have a Shared Mission with My Wife
That Was Beyond Us, One That We Could Strive for Together

You no doubt noticed that Norma wasn't a part of my work with
Bill. So often we segment our lives, and work stays distinct from
family. But by leaving Norma out of this part of my life, I lost
something of great value. Fortunately, today Norma and I have
combined our talents—and we are a team. You may see me in
front of a crowd at a conference, but believe me, without her
supportive work, there is no conference. The joy we get out of
working as a team is incredible, even though it's not always smooth
sailing.